Features

Choosing the Academic Program That’s Right for You

August 15, 2012

By Lisa Meloncon | Senior Member

In this issue, Saul Carliner provides a series of questions to help someone choose the type of academic program that may be the best option. Those questions are the first step in determining your continuing education plan. The next step is to find an academic program that suits your needs. Since any academic program you select will require a considerable investment of both time and money, be certain to research the program online thoroughly and then talk to the person who administers the degree program or certificate in person or via email. The program administrators are the best people to answer specific questions about the program. The following four sections provide a map of the most comprehensive listing of academic degree programs and some questions you may want to ask to be certain that you find the best academic program to meet your career goals.

Bachelor’s Degrees

Most undergraduate degree programs will be either a bachelor’s of arts (BA) or a bachelor’s of science (BS). In technical and professional communication (TPC), there is little difference academically between the two program types. There are, however, big differences between degrees in TPC and degrees that have an emphasis/track/concentration in TPC. The biggest difference between degrees in TPC when compared to emphasis degree programs is the number of required hours to achieve the degree. For example, in a TPC degree program, a student will be required to take 36 hours of TPC courses on average, but for degrees with an emphasis, the student will be required to take 12–15 hours of TPC courses on average. In addition to determining the kind of degree, the following are a series of questions that a potential student may want to consider asking the program administrator:

  • What is the focus of your program? Is it general or more specialized?
  • What are the required courses and how often are they offered?
  • What are the general times courses are offered (i.e., are night or weekend courses available)?
  • What emphasis is there on technology? What specific software programs will I be required to work with?
  • Do courses have “real-world” projects through service learning, internships, or other experiential learning opportunities?
  • Am I required to have a minor or to take courses outside of the department to gain subject matter expertise in another field?
  • Do faculty in the program have specific areas of expertise, such as health communication, data visualization, or content management? (You should ask about any area of study that specifically interests you.)
  • What options are available for electives? (For example, if you want to learn more about Web development, then look for courses in Web design.)

Bachelor’s of Arts and Bachelor’s of Science Degree Program Locations: http://batchgeo.com/map/d53cc50d8d204164601789c3646d7c63

Graduate Certificates

Many people pursue graduate certificates to update their skills, change positions, or become eligible for a raise or promotion. Since certificates are provided by attendance in a limited number of courses (usually 4 to 6), the most important questions to ask are:

  • How long does it take to complete?
  • Are required courses offered regularly?
  • What times are courses offered?
  • What are the admission requirements?

Graduate Certificate Program Locations: http://batchgeo.com/map/8ac406f04ea34deed8c41f8767e0a4d2

Master’s Degrees

Many of the questions to ask master’s degree administrators are similar to those of the BA/BS degree and the graduate certificate.

  • How long does it take to complete?
  • Is the GRE required? Are there other admission requirements?
  • What is the focus of your program? Is it general or more specialized?
  • What times are courses offered?
  • Is there a thesis or project requirement at the end of the program?
  • Is an internship required?
  • What are the specialty areas of the faculty?
  • What technologies are incorporated into the program? What specific software packages are used?

Master’s Degree Program Locations: http://batchgeo.com/map/646f48397e9093f54b9315196af44c87

PhD Degrees

A PhD is a highly specialized degree that takes a tremendous amount of commitment. In academic circles, there is much talk about the term “fit.” While this term can be ambiguous, in practical terms it means whether or not a student fits with the current faculty and fits in the way the program is structured. A PhD program requires close work with a faculty member who will direct the dissertation, so it is important that the potential student’s work “fits” with the faculty advisor. Unlike the workplace, where it is generally possible to avoid difficult personalities, a PhD program requires that the student and the faculty build a solid working relationship built on mutual trust and respect. Fit also means being able to match your own research interests and goals for the PhD with the way the program is structured. For example, some programs are highly structured with degree requirements, while others provide more flexibility. Before deciding on a specific program, the most important questions to ask yourself include:

  • Are there faculty who specialize in the area in which you are interested? Can you imagine working with this person over several years?
  • Does the program have the flexibility in requirements that will allow you to do the work you want to do?
  • What are the program’s placement rates (both academic and workplace placement)?
  • What is the typical time it takes to complete the degree (as compared to the recommended time)?

It may also be a good idea to plan a visit and meet with the faculty at the institutions you are considering.

PhD Degree Program Locations: http://batchgeo.com/map/7f8d0818b58184d7f1eda423007935f9

Online Options

The field has a growing number of programmatic options offered completely online.

Specific questions to ask about these programs include:

  • Are synchronous components required?
  • What type of technology is required to connect (to the course, to the faculty)?
  • Are there any residency requirements?
  • Are you charged in-state or out-of-state tuition?

Online Programs: http://batchgeo.com/map/8b3674eeab6daa7ee37a83f8a92eb3c9

Conclusion

Once you understand what type of program best suits your goals, the next step is to find the program that best meets your needs. The good news for the field of technical communication is that many educational options exist.

Lisa Meloncon (meloncon@tek-ritr.com) is an STC senior member of the Southwest Ohio Chapter and professor of technical and professional writing at the University of Cincinnati. Other than programmatic research, her main interest is in health and environmental health communication, and the impact of technology and communication in delivering complex information to various audiences. She also owns a technical communication consulting firm.